Press Releases

Junior League of Elizabeth-Plainfield to Host Smart and Sexy Event

By VALERIE CAMERA

March 6, 2017 at 3:18 AM

Content Options

By VALERIE CAMERA

March 6, 2017 at 3:18 AM

THE ALLIANCE OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT NONPROFITS AND THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF ELIZABETH PLAINFIELD’S CAREER CLOSET CELEBRATE NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH BY HONORING AND EMPOWERING WOMEN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN A NATIONAL EVENT PRESENTED BY SMART & SEXY

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY February 27, 2017 – On March 22, 2017, the Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield’s Career Closet and the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits will host a celebratory event from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Jumble Store located at 110 Walnut Avenue in Cranford in honor of Women’s History Month. The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN), Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield’s Career Closet and eleven (11) other ACDN member organizations are kicking off events in March throughout the U.S. aimed at helping women prepare as much as possible for employment. These Smart and Sexy Day events will inspire women – boosting their self-confidence so that they feel assured, confident and, most of all, employable. The holiday was launched in 2012 by Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (formerly known as The Women’s Alliance) - a national organization of independent, community-based member organizations who provide professional attire and career skills training to low income women and men - and sponsored by Smart & Sexy, one of the largest privately held lingerie companies in the country.

“It is difficult for those who have been out of the job market to find employment – this is true in times of job growth, economic downturn, or economic uncertainty. The need for the services our member agencies provide is crucial for individuals striving to gain employment. A lack of appropriate clothing to make an excellent first impression at an interview can create impossible barriers for disadvantaged women and men,” says Lynda-Ross Vega, Board President of the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits. “Our community-based, volunteer driven member organizations serve over 25,000 women and men each and every year, day in and day out assuring low-income people seeking self-sufficiency have an equal chance! This event brings awareness to this important work and the impact our members are having on thousands of people’s lives in your community.”

As part of the celebration, the Alliance of Career Development Nonprofit (ACDN) member organizations will provide a day of workforce training, professional image classes and individual support for women with the goal of enabling them to take action, secure employment and enhance the quality of their lives. The goal of the holiday is to help women feel good about who they are, because feeling good is looking good. Women who attend the day’s events at a participating ACDN location will receive Smart & Sexy foundation garments from Smart & Sexy as well as job seeking skills training from leading local industry professionals and dedicated volunteers. The impact of the day is to demonstrate how Smart & Sexy, ACDN and their member organizations support women in more ways than one! Attendees will also be taught how to shop and build a professional wardrobe on a budget.

“As an organization that strives to inspire women every day, Bottomless Closet is incredibly proud to participate in Smart & Sexy Day again this year,” said Melissa Norden, Executive Director of Bottomless Closet. “We know that our clients will leave this event empowered, self-confident and ready to start a new chapter in their professional lives – the same way we strive to make them feel each time they leave our office.”

Providing that learning opportunity during this celebratory Smart and Sexy Day event – and every day – is the mission of our 23 member organizations.”

Special programming, including accurate fittings and free foundational garments from Smart & Sexy, will be held in the following cities in the month of March:

Bloom (San Rafael, CA) – March 16

Bottomless Closet (New York, NY) - March 13

Career Wardrobe (Philadelphia, PA) - March 27

Desert Best Friend’s Closet (Palm Desert, CA) – March 24

Jackets for Jobs, Inc. (Detroit, MI) – March 15

Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield Career Closet (Cranford, NJ) – March 22

YWCA Allentown’s The Perfect Fit for Working Women (Allentown, PA) – March 27

All Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) Members will receive product from Smart & Sexy to give to their clients. For a full list of ACDN members, visit: www.acdnonline.org/locations.

ABOUT Smart & Sexy

Smart & Sexy was founded with the idea that women should be able to have fashionably sexy lingerie that provides figure solutions at great prices. Today, we are one of the largest privately held lingerie companies in the US, selling over 60 million garments a year under numerous national brands. Smart & Sexy is our in-house brand created for the fashion savvy woman. Smart fit, sexy and flattering looks, quality, comfort and amazing value are the brand's guiding principles. Smart & Sexy is the in-house brand for Ariela & Associates International which was founded over 20 years ago and is one of the largest privately held lingerie companies in the country.

The Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits (ACDN) is the leading network of unique community based non-profits that empower women and men to achieve economic independence. ACDN fosters the creation and growth of community-based organizations that assist individuals to secure and maintain employment. We believe anyone who wants a job, should get one. All ACDN member organizations offer free professional clothing so job seekers can make a great first impression.

Each year, member agencies of ACDN assist more than 25,000 women and men across the country transition into the workplace. The professional clothing, training, and coaching services provided by our member agencies help women and men coming out of poverty, welfare, and other dire circumstances prepare for and succeed in the workplace. Since ACDN’s inception, over 300,000 women and men have been outfitted with interview attire.

Since 2001, the Career Closet has provided career-dressing services to low-income women at no charge. We dress women who are reentering the workforce or advancing their career. The women come from Union County and the surrounding areas and are referred by community partners and government agencies. By providing professional clothing, we hope to increase the self-confidence, self-esteem, and ultimately, the self-sufficiency of these women. Last year Career Closet dressed over 170 women and partnered with over 25 community partners and government agencies. All business clothing and accessories are provided through donations and grants. Career Closet is a project of the Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield.

The Junior League of Elizabeth Plainfield is a chapter of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. and is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Whether you are making a list of target companies or preparing for interviews, you must do your homework. Go beyond Google to set yourself up for success.

On Monday, February 11 at 6:30pm, join the Career Networking Group at the Scotch Plains Public Library to find out how to use library resources and mine industry and business databases to maximize your job search research results. Learn ...

Whether you are making a list of target companies or preparing for interviews, you must do your ...

Low-middle income families and individuals are entering into a deeply challenging housing market. The path to homeownership has never seemed so daunting and financially complicated! It is no surprise, then, that many families choose to rent rather than slog their way through the mortgage process for an uncertain goal. The dream of one day owning a home seems to many an improbable ...

Low-middle income families and individuals are entering into a deeply challenging housing market.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present artwork from the Art from the HEART fine arts program on display at the Freeholders Gallery now until February 14. The public is invited to visit the Freeholders Gallery any time during regular business hours weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the 6th floor of the Union County Administration Building, located at 10 ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present artwork from the Art from the ...

CRANFORD – The Office of Continuing Education at Union County College is offering Uniform Construction Code courses this semester for individuals interested in construction and licensure. These programs have been approved by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

Building Inspector I.C.S. is a 75-hour hybrid program which provides students with the educational information on building ...

CRANFORD – The Office of Continuing Education at Union County College is offering Uniform ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographic mandalas by Danielle Wilkinson of Clark in the gallery space at the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, located at 633 Pearl Street in Elizabeth. A selection of Ms. Wilkinson’s work entitled “Photographic Mandalas from Nature” is on display at the Pearl Street Gallery until March 29.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to present an exhibit of photographic ...

EDISON, NJ -- Students, parents, alumni, faculty and friends at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School in Edison enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate winter athletics at the annual Winter Games, sponsored by the Booster Club.

The W+H basketball and swim teams hosted contests in Laidlaw Gym, Plumeri Gym and the Raymonds Aquatic Center as the cheer squads pumped up the crowd. The Booster Club fired up the ...

EDISON, NJ -- Students, parents, alumni, faculty and friends at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School in ...

EDISON, NJ -- Join us for The Wardlaw+Hartridge School Baseball Clinic featuring former MLB player Milt Thompson. The clinic, which is being held Saturday, Feb. 9 at W+H, will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The session will be open to students in grades 5-12 and will be held in Laidlaw Gym at The Wardlaw+Hartridge School at 1295 Inman Ave. in Edison.

During his 13 seasons in the Big Leagues, ...

EDISON, NJ -- Join us for The Wardlaw+Hartridge School Baseball Clinic featuring former MLB player ...

CRANFORD – Union County College’s Academic Specialist for Practical Nursing Nancy Friedrich, MSN, RN, IBCLC was one of 12 individuals who received the Nurse Recognition Award from the New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN) at their 2018 Gala: Celebration HO’OHANA. The gala was an evening of community, family, and recognizing excellence in nursing.

The “empty” weeks between Championship Sunday and the Super Bowl can present a challenge to football fans. With these folks in mind, Scotch Plains Public Library has planned a Football Weekend to help fans and loved ones get through the break.

It wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without delicious snack foods-but is it possible to enjoy your favorites without defeating your New ...

Got Football?

The “empty” weeks between Championship Sunday and the Super Bowl can present a ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a free teacher training workshop for teachers K-8 on Thursday, March 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The “Eagle Cam in the Classroom” program offers a unique opportunity for formal and non-formal grade school teachers to learn how a wildlife cam can be effectively used as a teaching tool.

“We’re glad to offer this teacher ...

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce a free teacher training ...